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A LOVER'S REVERY 



ON NEW YEAR'S EVE 






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Copyright, 1S89. 

-BY- 

HENRY LINDEN. 



I ^ L.O VE R'S_R E M E R V 



-OIS 



NEW YEAR'S EYE. 



One New Year's eve, beside n flickering fire. 
Alone I sat to see the 3'ear expire. 
Of all the past that had been foes to me 
This year had been my bitterest enemy. 
And, so, I 'waited his end without a sigh- 

ilad that the cruel tyrant soon must die. 
For, even now, he showed his vengeful spite. 
Although his soul was soon to take its fliglit; 
For he had raised the most tempestuous weather: 
From every side he had summoned his hosts together. 
And was driving his piercing storm- winds hither and thither 
So that the dreary forests sighed and moaned, 
And the rafters in the housetops creaked and groaned; 
And, though 1 w'as safe from the raw and biting air. 
Reclining in mv room on my easv chair, 



Unconsciously the glowing gnite I stirred 

^Vhene''cr the storm -winds past the windows whirred. 
And as I waited thus that lonely night 

Without a single friend to cheer my sight, 
\cept a cheerful-looking bowl of punch, 
That stood by me with friendship true and staunch, 

! dreamily bethought me of that saying 
iiat, <jn the clock stroke, when the year is dying, 

if a bachelor behold a maiden's face, 

Their union shall, w^ithin a year take place. 

But I had as little hope as superstition; 

Ivenewed defeat had dulled my young ambition. 

And, so, I tried to banish from my mind 

The loved one I had long ago resigned. 

Ah, my poor heart! but she was heavenly fair I 

A soul for loving tenderness, most rare; 

An eye unto the azure sky akin, 

Reflecting the beauty of the soul within; 
\ smooth, transparent, rosy-tinted cheek, 
. hat seemed of health and purity to speak, 

And showed such lovely dimples, whene'er she'd smile 

The coldest lover's heart they would beguile. 

■And, O, to think of those red, cherry lips. 

So. delicately shaped, like fairy tips, 

Whleh, when she drew npartj revealed beneath 

Two rows of small and charming, pearl-white teeth. 



Andy then, such golden locks of waving hairl 
In short— fond nature did not seem to spare 
Aught that could make her features or complexion 
Approach the very acme of perfection. 

But cruel fate had separated us 
Without good cause, vet it seemed destined thus; 
For cold parental wisdom made ohjection 
To our ardent, mutual affection. — 

Alas, for that 23oor wight who vainly loves! 
Pur^Doseless through this weary world he roves, 
Finding no joy in fortune or in fame; 
Success and failure to him are all the same. 
For, even if his life successful prove, 
'Twill only seem more vain without his love. 
What can he do but wander on alone. 
Stifling his heart's throes till it turn to stone !^ 

But painful thoughts like these I could not bear. 
And, so, I settled back in my easy chair 
I'o see if pitying sleep would not impart 
A brighter tone to my despondent heart. 
And, soon, a spirit of drowsiness came o'er me, 
And a strange and wondrous scene arose before me, 
Which to describe and rightly to relate 
I must confess my powers inadequate. 

Out of the blueish flames of the glowing grate 
A hundred midgets seemed to emanate, 



And dance before my much bewildered eyes. 
Flashing and sparkling like gaudy lire-flies. 
And, here, weird fairies, in a mongrel train. 
Crowded upon my thoroughly puzzled brain. 
And troops of beings that I never could name 
Tripped gaily round the fire's litful flame. 

And, as I gazed, in mute amazement lost. 
Before my wondering eyes there suddenly crossed- 
Though how or where he entered I could not tell- 
A person whom I knew, alas, too well. 

His form w^as bent and shrivelled, though not w^ith age, 
But rather from ungovernable rage. 
For he had hardly ceased throughout his life 
From keeping up an endless, fiendish strife. 
Thrice hateful for the evils he had done me 
E'er since his cruel storms had burst upon me, 
A hideous object w^as he to behold. 
Shambling along and shivering from the cold. 
And clutching tightly in his nervous hand 
A crooked, curious stick, his magic wand. 
By means of which he governed wind and wave 
And destined men to glory or the grave. 
Need I s'ay it was th' old year, my heartless foe. 
Who failed ^ot-now his^last respects to show. 
And well I knew he did not visit me 
Either in kindness or in charity; 



But o'er my wretched plight and misery 

He came to gloat and triumph with fiendish glee. 

^'Aha! old friend!" he said, in a creaky tone, 

'I could not hear to leave you all alone; 

vnd, so, I've come to be a comrade boon. 
And I find I've come not a bit too soon; 
For I have just found out your little scheme 
Of indulging in a pleasant New Year's dream,. 
And thus secure a lovely bride next year. 
Ha, ha! my friend", he added with a sneer, ' 
''I'll take good care that a nice old hag you'll see; 
For which last kindness still gives thanks to me." 
And, when I slightly frowned, as thus he chaffed. 
His small eyes sparkled and he grimly laughed. 
But I had long been used to his cynical ways, 
For I had known him in his crudest days. 
And to his jeers had learned to pay no heed, 
Though inwardly my heart the while should bleed. 

At last with taunting me he seemed to tire; 
And, feeling cold, moved closer to the fire. 
And, now, my attention was aroused again 
By the lively movements of the fairy train. 
Unnoticed by him, about his form they hovered 
Until with countless midgets he was covered; 
And round about his ugly, nideous form 
Like sparks of flashing fire they did swarm ; 



^""(1111 he was covered so I scarcely knew him; 

When, quicker than it takes me to narrate, 
Unitedly they dashed against, and threw him. 

With sudden shock, upon the glowing grate I 

As from dry tinder, when- with oil Immersed, 
Forth from his prostrate body the v^diite flames burst; 
And, spreading o'er him, -he was quickly wreathed 
In a mass of sinuous flames, that crackled and seethed. 

Three times he tried to rise, but all in vain. 
The mischievous fairies hurled him back again; 
Then danced about the grate triumphantly. 
And, b}^ their gestures wild, proclaimed their glee. 
Till, Anally, with a sudden twinge and throe. 
He uttered a most uneaithly cry of woe; 
vSo shrill and ghastl}' that it made me start 
And sent an awful shudder to my heart. 
Nor, after that, did he attempt to rise; 
But, sinking backward, fixed on me his eyes. 
Which glowered and glared like livid balls of fire, 
Though not from heat, but from malignant ire; 
. Like the protruding eyes of a venomous snake. 
To look at which will make the boldest quake. 
But, since I knew his end was drawing near, 
' I, felt I had no reason now to fear. 
■ And, as I saw him gradually burn 
And rhaking vain attempts to rise, or turn, 



1 could not, e'en if prudence bade, restrain 

A sense of grim enjoyment and delight 

To see his painful, pitiable plight, 
And watch him writhe in misery and pain. 

But, now, as the clock began to strike the hour 
That would forever take from him his power, 
The flames, receding, fatuously fizzled 
And o'er his charred and shrunken carcass sizzled; 
His eyes began unsteadily to flare, 
Abating slowly their malignant glare; 
When, just as the noisy clock had struck its last. 
The band of fairies up the chimney passed; 
And, like a flash, where, but a moment back. 
Had lain the old year's corpse, all charred and black, 
There now appeared, as in a hazy cloud. 
Enveloped in a silvery, silken shroud. 
What was to me the dearest, sweetest vision. 
Recalling to life old hopes of love Elysian; 
For, there, in all her loveliness, she stood 
Whom I 5o long and hopelessly had wooed. 
At first my eyesight was completely dazed; 

Then, rousing myself, bewildered and astonished, 
Into her soulful eyes I fondly gazed; 

But for a moment only —and she vanished ! 

Amazed I looked about me and my eyes 
Soon opened wide with anguish and surprise. 



l^'or, there, upon the coals, all crisp and charred 
..ay what was left of my only Christmas card! 

A little while I was filled with deep chagrin ; 
But hope soon rose triumphantly again. 
Por the bright, sweet vision of that old loved face 
;^rought hack my youthful hopes to their old place. 
And, though I may not say I'm superstitious. 
My best and truest friends could never wish us 
A better omen. 

Ere that year had run 
E'en half its course, my love and I were one! 



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